Islamabad: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) initiated its Phase II Merger Review hearings concerning the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers by PTCL. This major review could reshape Pakistan’s telecommunications landscape by merging one of its largest telecom operators with significant infrastructure providers.
According to Competition Commission of Pakistan announcement issued on 30 September 2024, the hearings are being conducted under the guidance of CCP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, with the participation of commission members Mr. Salman Amin and Mr. Abdul Rashid Sheikh. During the initial session, PTCL was represented by Senior Counsel Ms. Rahat Kaunain Hassan, who highlighted the economic growth and opportunities the merger could potentially unlock.
The review aims to scrutinize the market share dynamics and the risks of increased market concentration that could arise from PTCL’s complete ownership of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers. PTCL’s President and Group CEO, Mr. Hatem Bamatraf, along with other senior management, presented detailed insights into the strategic benefits of the transaction.
The hearing also saw significant participation from other telecom and regulatory stakeholders, including Mr. Khurram Ashfaque, CEO of Telenor Pakistan; Mr. Andreas Hogberg, CEO of Orion Towers; and representatives from Jazz, Wateen, and the Frequency Allocation Board, among others. These parties are expected to contribute further insights and data in the next session scheduled for October 2, 2024.
This extensive merger review process, following the initial application submitted by PTCL and Telenor on March 6, 2024, underscores the CCP’s commitment to ensuring fair competition and addressing any potential adverse impacts on the market.